Volume Ix Part 100 (1/2)

_Enter_ CLOWN.

CLOWN. From London am I come, Though not with pipe and drum, Yet I bring matter In this poor paper Will make my young mistress, Delighting in kisses, Do as all maidens will, Hearing of such an ill, As to have lost The thing they wish'd most, A husband, a husband, A pretty sweet husband, Cry O, O, O, And alas, and at last Ho, ho, ho, As I do.

CLARE. Return'd so soon from London? what's the news?

CLOWN. O mistress, if ever you have seen Demoniseacleer, look into mine eyes: mine eyes are Severn, plain Severn; the Thames nor the river of Tweed are nothing to them: nay, all the rain that fell at Noah's flood had not the discretion that my eyes have: that drunk but up the whole world, and I have drowned all the way betwixt this and London.

CLARE. Thy news, good Robin.

CLOWN. My news, mistress? I'll tell you strange news. The dust upon London way being so great, that not a lord, gentleman, knight, or knave could travel, lest his eyes should be blown out: at last they all agreed to hire me to go before them, when I, looking but upon this letter, did with this water, this very water, lay the dust, as well as if it had rained from the beginning of April till the last of May.

CLARE. A letter from my Scarborow I give it thy mistress.

CLOWN. But, mistress--

CLARE. Prythee, begone, I would not have my father nor these gentlemen Be witness of the comfort it doth bring.

CLOWN. O, but mistress--

CLARE. Prythee, begone, With this and the glad news leave me alone.

[_Exit_ CLOWN.

THOM. 'Tis your turn, knight; take your liquor, know I am bountiful; I'll forgive any man anything that he owes me but his drink, and that I'll be paid for.

CLARE. Nay, gentlemen, the honesty of mirth Consists not in carousing with excess; My father hath more welcomes than in wine.

Pray you, no more.

THOM. Says my sister so? I'll be ruled by thee then. But do you hear? I hope hereafter you'll lend me some money. Now we are half-drunk, let's go to dinner. Come, knight.

[_Exeunt_.

_Manet_ CLARE.

CLARE. I am glad you're gone.

Shall I now open't? no, I'll kiss it first, Because this outside last did kiss his hand.

Within this fold (I'll call't a sacred sheet) Are writ black lines, where our white hearts shall meet.

Before I ope this door of my delight, Methinks I guess how kindly he doth write Of his true love to me; as chuck, sweetheart, I prythee do not think the time too long That keeps us from the sweets of marriage rites: And then he sets my name, and kisses it, Wis.h.i.+ng my lips his sheet to write upon; With like desire (methinks) as mine own thoughts Ask him now here for me to look upon; Yet at the last thinking his love too slack, Ere it arrive at my desired eyes, He hastens up his message with like speed, Even as I break this ope, wis.h.i.+ng to read.

O, what is here? mine eyes are not mine own; Sure, sure, they are not. [O eyes,]

Though you have been my lamps this sixteen years, [_Lets fall the letter_.

You do belie my Scarborow reading so; _Forgive him, he is married_, that were ill: What lying lights are these? look, I have no such letter, No wedded syllable of the least wrong Done to a trothplight virgin like myself.

Beshrew you for your blindness: _Forgive him, he is married_!

I know my Scarborow's constancy to me Is as firm knit as faith to charity, That I shall kiss him often, hug him thus, Be made a happy and a fruitful mother Of many prosperous children like to him; And read I, he was married! ask'd forgiveness?

What a blind fool was I; yet here's a letter, To whom, directed too? _To my beloved Clare_.

Why, la!

Women will read, and read not that they saw.

'Twas but my fervent love misled mine eyes, I'll once again to the inside, _Forgive me, I am married; William Scarborow_. He has set his name to't too.

O perjury! within the hearts of men Thy feasts are kept, their tongue proclaimeth them.

_Enter_ THOMAS SCARBOROW.

THOM. Sister, G.o.d's precious, the cloth's laid, the meat cools, we all stay, and your father calls for you.

CLARE. Kind sir, excuse me, I pray you, a little; I'll but peruse this letter, and come straight.